Method and apparatus for vacuum release of a trash bag in a waste container

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus prevents vacuum restraint during removal of a plastic trash bag liner from a trash container. The side wall of the trash container includes a vent port near the bottom of the container, and a flapper valve attached above the vent port on the inside of the container covers the port with a covering element while the trash bag rests. When the trash bag is filled and thereafter lifted out of the trash container, the covering element lifts to open the vent port and cause an inflow of air under the trash bag to prevent a vacuum forming.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for improvingtrash receptacles by preventing vacuum restraint of a trash bag duringremoval. In particular, the invention prevents vacuum restraint byintroducing air to the trash receptacle through a valve during removalof the bag.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Trash containers for collecting trash and waste often are typicallylined with plastic trash bags. Once the container is full, the plastictrash bag lining the container is removed to clean and empty thecontainer. However, the weight and volume of the trash bag often fillsthe entire volume of the container, especially the lower portion of thecontainer. During the filling of the trash bag, air is pressed out ofthe container from below the bag and the bag begins to press against thewalls of the container. When removing the trash bag, the bag remainspressed against the container sometimes forming an air lock seal thatcreates a vacuum below the bag within the container. Such vacuum causesa restraint that makes removal of a bag more difficult, particularly forweak and infirm individuals. Thus, it would be beneficial to eliminatethe vacuum restraint within a trash container when the trash bag isremoved so as to prevent the nuisance of such restraint.

Several prior devices provide vacuum prevention or removal by a variousmethods but without all of the advantages of the present invention. Forinstance, some devices reduce vacuum restraint by flow of air from thetop of the container. U.S. Pat. No. 7,438,199 to Tidrick, U.S. Pat. No.6,594,876 to Stastny, U.S. Pat. No. 4,294,379 to Bard, U.S. Pat. No.6,015,063 to Poliquin and U.S. Pat. No. 5,492,241 Barnett, et al. ventair from the top of the container and each require a conduit to the topof the container. This conduit likely increases the cost of constructionof the container or requires aftermarket modification with lose partsthat remain separable from the container. Such an open air vent to thetop of a trash container also has the potential for release odors fromthe bottom of the container.

Several others trash containers provide baffles formed within theinterior of the container wall, such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,736,281 toJoseph. These baffles modify the interior shape of the container or addto the complexity and cost of manufacture of the container itself. Aswith the top venting methods, such baffles may permit odors from to thebottom of the container to be released upwardly.

Other trash containers are vented at the bottom of the container with aplurality of holes such as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,803,303 to Timm, et al.and U.S. Pat. No. 5,690,247 to Boover. These holes remain open duringuse of the container and provide potential for leakage of liquid wastefrom the container and release of odors. In some cases the holes may becovered by the liner and create a seal that does not rapidly relieve avacuum restraint when removing the bag.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,717 to LeVasseur provides a large enough vent with agrill structure, but does not provide a valve or closure for the vent.The vent may release odors and permit insects and other pests into thecontainer. Further, the vent may be blocked by the bag, causing atemporary vacuum restraint.

A need exists for a vacuum release means for trash receptacles thatovercomes the disadvantages associated with these prior devices. Suchvacuum release should be easy to construct, adaptable to new or existingcontainers, resistant to pests or odors related to the trash container,automatic and instant releasing of vacuum restraint when removing atrash bag and of long-lasting construction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing shortcomings of vented trash containers and theneed for a trash container that effectively provides for elimination ofvacuum restraint, the present invention provides a new and improvedmethod and apparatus for preventing vacuum restraint within a trashcontainer when removing a plastic liner or bag. To attain this, thepresent invention provides a new construction of a valve and ventaperture within a trash container. The container comprises a bottom wallwith a plurality of side walls extending upwardly from the bottom wallto define the container with a large opening at the top for receiving aplastic trash bag. The vent aperture is formed in one of the side wallsof the container. A flapper valve is attached to the container andarranged to lift inward and upward upon removal of the trash bag. Theflapper valve includes a boot that settles into the vent aperture andcan seal the vent aperture closed until the trash bag is lifted upward.In combination with means to form the vent aperture, the flapper valveand attachment accessory may be provided as a kit to adapt the methodand device to existing trash containers.

There are several objects of the present invention, including thefollowing:

A first object is the instant relief of vacuum restraint from a trashcontainer when removing a plastic trash bag from the container. Thus, anobject is also for the vacuum relief system to work automatically.

Another object is to provide a vacuum relief system for trashreceptacles that is pest and odor resistant.

Another object is to cheaply incorporate a vacuum relief system intoexisting trash containers, while also providing a system thatincorporates into new trash containers without greatly increasing thecost of manufacture. Thus, another object is to use preexisting stockcomponents for construction.

Still another object is to provide a vacuum relief method and apparatusthat does not effect the volume or effectiveness of the container bynegatively impacting the nesting of the plastic liner in the trashcontainer, reducing the capacity of the container, or causing trash bagsto snag and tear within the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a trash container with a vacuum releasevalve in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the trash container.

FIG. 3 is a perspective and side view of the flapper and plug inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial side view of the trash container wall showing theconstruction of the vacuum release valve in accordance with anembodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 through 4 illustrate improvementsto a trash container 10 that make removal of a plastic trash bag 18 freeof vacuum restraint. Such improvements may be applied to household trashcontainers, yard debris containers, and commercial trash containers thatare suitable for disposable plastic trash bag liners. FIG. 1 illustratesa preferred embodiment of the invention. The trash container 10 is shownwith a plastic trash bag 18 inserted. The bag 18 is removed when full bypulling the bag upward out of the container 10 with force. The inventionreduces the removal force required by eliminating vacuum restraint ofthe bag 18 during removal. The trash container 10 comprises a bottomwall 20 as shown in FIG. 2 and a plurality of side walls 26 that arerectangular, curved or a combination thereof. The side walls 26 extendupward from the bottom wall 20, and the bottom wall and side wallsdefine the interior 28 of the trash container 10. The material the trashcontainer 10 is constructed of may vary and is not limited to plastic ormetal. The trash container 10 has an open top for the insertion andremoval of the disposable plastic trash bag 18. The plastic trash bag 18is placed within the trash container 10 to line the interior 28 and makeremoval of waste easy and clean.

One of the side walls 26 of the trash container 10 is modified andimproved to include an air allowing component 16 that includes a ventport 30. The vent port 30 is situated substantially near or adjacent tothe bottom wall 20 to promote the correct air flow. Usually the ventport 30 is about 1.5 inches from the bottom wall 20. The vent port 30allows air to enter the interior 28 of the trash container 10 under andaround the plastic trash bag 18 when removing the trash bag. By theentry of the air, the vacuum potential in the trash container does notdevelop, and the vacuum restraint is prevented. The vent port 30 shownis a circular hole and about 1.875 inches in diameter. The size of thevent port 30 may be adjusted according to the size of the trashcontainer 10 or according to the side of the plug 39, usually from about1.0 to 3.0 inches. Most vented trash containers 10 will functioneffectively with a single vent port 30 and a flapper valve 34 topreclude development of a vacuum under the trash bag 18 in saidcontainer. However, additional vent ports 30 may be added for very largetrash containers. Larger containers may require two or more vent ports30 and flapper valves 34. Although, no more than two vent ports 30should be needed for typical household garbage containers.

The vent port 30 is covered from the interior of the trash container 10by a flapper valve 34. The flapper valve 34 includes a mounting element36, a flexible arm 37, and a movable covering element 38. FIG. 3illustrates the flapper valve 34 separate from the trash container 10 inwhich the flapper valve 10 is constructed of a single prefabricatedpiece of durable and flexible material such as Neoprene, syntheticrubber or a similar material. The mounting element 36 is affixed to theinterior surface of the side wall of the trash container 10 above thevent port 30 as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4. The flexible arm 37 extendsdownward from the mounting element 36 and holds the movable coveringelement 38 in its position relative to the vent port 30. When loweredand closed, the covering element 38 fits into or over the vent port 30to close the vent port and prevent the entry of outside air or pests, orthe escape of odor or debris from the interior 28 of the container 10.

The mounting element 36 may be attached to the interior of the trashcontainer 10 by any suitable means. The mounting point is determinedsuch that the flexible arm 37 will hold the covering element 38 forlifting and lowering the covering element with respect to the vent port30 and covering the vent port when lowered. The attachment means mayinclude welding and bonding processes, gluing, or mechanical fastener.Rivets are one suitable choice for mechanical fastener because of theirstrength and smooth profile on the interior and exterior surfaces of thetrash container 10.

The flexible arm 37 may comprise a soft, flexible rubber material likethat used in common toilet tank flapper valves. The rubber material isdurable, resistant to corrosion and flexible enough for the purpose ofproviding a lifting valve in trash containers. The flexible arm 37connects the covering element 38 to the mounting element 36 and providesa lever for lifting the covering element upward while pivoting about themounting point. The flexible arm 37 should be flexible enough that thefriction and suction of lifting a trash bag 18 from the trash container10 causes the arm to flex and allows the covering element 38 to lift,opening the vent port 30.

The covering element 38 extends from the flexible arm 37 and is shapedto cover the vent port 30. The shape and design of the covering element38 may be customized according to the shape and configuration of thevent port 30. In the mode shown in the figures, the covering element 38comprises a circular plug 39 on the outside face of the covering elementthat fits within the vent port 30. The covering element 38 also includesa flange 40 about the circular plug 39 that overlaps and covers the edgeof the vent port 30 on the interior of the trash container side wall 26.Thus, the covering element 38 creates a seal around the vent port 30when closed. The covering element 38 may include a raised surface 42 orother friction creating element on the inside face of the coveringelement that improves the lifting action of the flapper valve 34 whenremoving a trash bag 18 from the container 10.

A preexisting trash container 10 may incorporate the features of thepresent invention through provision of a kit. The kit includes a deviceor instructions for forming the vent port 30 in one side wall of thetrash container 10 about 1.5 inches above the bottom wall 20. A deviceor instructions are also provided for attaching the flapper valve 34 tothe interior of the trash container 10 by a bonding agent, glue, ormechanical fastener that is also included with the kit.

During use of the trash container 10, an empty trash bag is placed intothe container through the open top so that the bottom of the trash bagrests upon the interior surface of the bottom wall 20. The trash bag isgradually filled with garbage until time to remove and replace the fulltrash bag 18. Upon which time, the trash bag 18 is pulled upward and outof the trash container. In doing so, the movable flapper valve 34 isactivated and automatically detects a developing vacuum potential. Theflapper valve 34 reacts by the covering element 38 lifting with theflexible arm 37 flexing inward and upward, thus allowing outside air toenter through the vent port 30 into the interior of the trash container10 under and around the full trash bag 18. Since the vacuum restraintdoes not develop, the full trash bag 18 can more easily be lifted out ofthe trash container 10 without the restriction of a vacuum buildupwithin the container. The covering element 38 relaxes on the flexiblearm 37 and rests back into the vent port 30 when the bag is not beingremoved or a new empty bag is inserted. The covering element 38 isallowed to compress firmly against the inside of the side wall 26,effectively sealing the vent port 30.

Although the invention has been described in terms of exemplaryembodiments, it is not limited thereto. Rather, the appended claimsshould be construed broadly, to include other variants and embodimentsof the invention which may be made by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the scope and range of equivalents of the invention.

1. A method for preventing vacuum restraint of a plastic trash bagcomprising: providing a trash container with an interior defined by abottom wall a plurality of side walls; providing a vent port in one ofthe side walls substantially near the bottom wall; covering the ventport with a covering element while the trash bag rests in the trashcontainer and is filled; and lifting the covering element to open thevent port and cause an inflow of air under the trash bag upon liftingthe trash bag upward out of the trash container.
 2. A method forpreventing vacuum restraint of a plastic trash bag as in claim 1 inwhich covering the vent port includes providing a flapper valve attachedabove the vent port on the interior of the trash container with thecovering element provided on the flapper valve for covering the ventport.
 3. A method for preventing vacuum restraint of a plastic trash bagas in claim 2 in which a flexible arm is provided on the flapper valvefor retaining the covering element and the flexible arm bends whenlifting the covering element.
 4. An apparatus for prevention of vacuumrestraint that may occur during removal of a plastic trash bagcomprising: a trash container having a bottom wall and side walls thatdefine an interior of the trash container; a vent port through one ofthe side walls situated at a position substantially near the bottomwall; and a flapper valve having a mounting element, a flexible arm anda covering element and attached in the interior of the trash containerby affixing the mounting element to the side wall above the vent portsuch that the covering element is arranged to cover the vent port whenresting.
 5. An apparatus as described in claim 4 in which the vent portis a circular hole and the covering element is a circular plug.
 6. Anapparatus as described in claim 4 in which the covering element includean inside face having a friction creating element comprised of a raisedsurface.
 7. A method of modifying an existing trash container to preventvacuum restraint that may occur when a plastic trash bag is pulled outof the trash container, said method comprising: obtaining a flappervalve; making a vent port through a wall of the trash container and at aposition substantially near a bottom wall of the trash container;attaching the flapper valve to the wall of the trash container at aposition above the vent port when the trash container is upright so thatthe flapper valve flexibly lifts inward and upward and so that a plug onthe flapper valve aligns with the vent port and seals the vent portclosed when resting and so that the plug opens the vent port causing aflow of outside air into the trash container when the trash bag islifted.